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Date: 8/24/2022
MONSON – Baxter’s Berry Farm is a small Monson farm that grows and sells fresh berries and stone fruit. Sarah Baxter, along with her husband Barry Bedward, are the owners of the farm, and started it while they were both working full-time. They have since retired, but keep the farm going.
“We only sell what we grow,” said Sarah Baxter. “Everything is freshly picked from the tree within a day or two of selling.”
Baxter told Reminder Publishing what started the farm at one point was the property she and her husband are on was all part of a larger property that was called Baxter’s Echo Hill Orchard. When Baxter’s parents retired, they sold about 4.5 acres, which she purchased, and her parents sold the rest of the orchard off to another individual.
“Later on, on the other side of us, 17 acres came up for sale, which my husband and I bought,” she explained. “We had always planted a few fruit trees on the property, so we had fresh fruit. We now have 600 to 700 trees planted. We also have blueberries, raspberries and tomatoes in season.”
Monson resident Jennifer White had drove by the farm on some of her trips with her boyfriend. They saw the signs out front and turned up the driveway. “My boyfriend had a peach to try and it was the best peach we had tasted,” White described. They have been going back ever since. White has made jelly from the peaches and plums at the farm and peach Italian ice. She explained she will continue to go to the farm and recommends going every season.
Even though it’s a light fruit year, Baxter and Bedward are keeping their heads above water and keeping customers happy with the number of trees they do have. Most of the stone fruit is very light this year due to below-freezing temperatures while in full blossom, and lack of rain. They will have peaches until the middle of September and several types of plums. They started picking the early variety of the Italian blue plum, which is a favorite of many customers.
“We enjoy doing it,” Baxter said. “It keeps Barry and I active and keeps us talking with people in the community. We meet a lot of great people from doing this. For us to build a business at home and watch it grow every year has been very rewarding.”
Baxter’s Berry Farm is at 99 Wilbraham Rd. and is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m. on Fridays. Baxter and Bedward set up their farmstand up the driveway on Monday-Wednesday and down by the road on Thursday-Sunday. For more information, call 310-4284 or follow them on Facebook.